Lewiston Teller

VILLARD INTERVIEWED.

[Special Dispatch to the Oregonian.]

New York, Dec. 13th.-To-day's Philadelphia Press had an interview with Villard. He says, "I have traveled considerably in Oregon and Washington Territory during the past two months and I saw on all sides evidences of rapid development of a grand country, but the best evidence of the growth of the northwest is in the increase in our passenger and freight business. The wheat crop of Washington and Oregon will be about twice as much this year as last. We are confident of running through trains by the 1st of September, 1883. I may say that one of the great advantages of the Northern Pacific road over very other Pacific railway is that from the summit of the Rocky mountains to the Pacific ocean, a distance of 900 miles, the main line will follow a steady down river grade. In the same distance the Central Pacific has to go over three summits of from 6,000 to 8,000 feet high. So far as our road is concerned it is entirely independent of any railroad interest east of St. Paul and Duluth. It is not necessary nor would it be wise to form alliances with the Northern Pacific railroad and other roads. The business of our road as a through line will be very valuable and there will be plenty of competition for the business of the road."

Reporter asked, "Will the Northern Pacific use the Oregon Railway and Navigation company's line after striking the head waters of the Columbia river?"

"It will use for the present the O. R. & N. Co's line from the confluence of Snake and Columbia rivers and along the south of the latter for a distance of about 200 miles. The Northern Pacific propose building a line of its own on the northern bank of the Columbia, which it will, of course, use when it is completed."

"Will the road be built from Ainsworth to Tacoma?"

"Yes, the Cascade branch. The final reports of engineers upon the several surveys are not yet made, and can hardly be completed owing to the severe season before next spring. The company will, however, build the branch, and if a definite choice of routes can be made in season, work will be commenced from Ainsworth during the ensuing year. The road will pass through Yakima valley, a rich wheat producing country."

MR. H. VILLARD, who has an eye single to the future greatness of this region, and the immediate and lasting prosperity of its inhabitants, has concluded in his infinite wisdom that the best way to secure the communication of those devoutly to be wished for ends is to increase the capital stock of the O. R. & N. Co. from $12,000,000 to $18,000,000.The stockholders of this company will accordingly be assessed or cinched to the tune of 50 per cent., which it is probable will make some of them squeal. This monopoly business appears to be something like hunting the tiger-it is very fine as long as you are hunting him, but when he hunts you it is very different.-Portland Standard.